About 180 Interns Absent

About 180 interns did not show up for work, Monday morning, at hospitals in Haifa and the Tel Aviv area. They were protesting the lack of progress in talks with the government. About 80 of the medical residents were absent from Rambam Hospital in Haifa. The other hospitals affected were Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikva, Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv, Meir Hospital in Kfar Sava and the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer.

Health Ministry officials called the absenteeism a "disciplinary offense and contempt of court", adding that steps would be taken against the absentees as needed. The ministry said negotiations represent the only way to resolve differences.